New to forum with an Engine Warning Light problem

[Chaprich]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum. I own a 2004 Mazda 3, 2.3 with 85,000+ miles. I have had continuing problems with the engine warning light. The diagnostics (at $85-$95 a pop) always indicate a faulty gas cap, which I have had replaced (because the original was "faulty"). The fix was good for a few weeks and the engine warning light came back on again.

The car is due its annual state inspection this month. It CANNOT pass inspection with an illuminated engine warning light. So I take it to a service shop, they run the diagnostics ($85-$95), that will indicate a fuel cap problem, replace or fix fuel cap, reset computer, and hopefully engine light will not illuminate for 48 hours in order to pass inspection.

Help! What should I do? Is this a chronic Mazda 3 issue?

 

[Azexa]

I honestly haven't heard of this being a big Mazda issue, I was wondering, are you taking this to a Mazda dealership to get fixed or just a mechanic?

 

[Chaprich]

Initially to the Mazda dealer where I purchased the car, and then an independent shop that specializes in Japanese autos. Both come up with the same issue.

 

[mjstew]

i'm assuming that if its saying that there is a faulty gas cap, then OBD is coming up with an evap code... it could be a variety of other little things, including sensors that is causing the check engine light to come on...

fyi- if you get the check engine light turned off you usually have a few days before it will come back on because the system is performing all of its checks, so you can have it inspected at that point, and see what happens. if they connect a cable to read obd all that would happen is the system come up saying its not ready.

 

[burgmo3]

Yeah and invest in a code reader for the future $85 is crazy.

 

[Chaprich]

Where do I buy a code reader? Can the code reader reset the OBC?

 

[mjstew]

you can get a code reader at any store that sells auto parts at this point... if youre not looking for a high end diagnostic reader, you can get one at walmart (Canadian Tire for those in Canada!) for under $100...any OBD reader should be able to reset the codes.